Starting seeds can be very rewarding. There are a few benefits to starting your own plants that should spring to mind immediately...
- You can extend the gardening season - Extend the growing season by starting the seeds early so that vegetables such as tomatoes, green peppers, and eggplant are more likely to produce ripe fruit.
On the other hand, starting seeds means a commitment of time and space. Read this article and then decide if you can commit yourself to this spring task. Seeds will need looking after every day for a few weeks, so make sure you have the time and energy to pull it off. If you decide to go ahead and start your own seeds, good for you! This article and the links to other pages on seed starting will provide you with all the information you will need, so buckle up and get ready to start some seeds!
What you will need
- Seed starting mix
Why don't I just call it soil? Well, actually, most starting mixes are soilless, meaning that they are a combination of peat moss, vermiculite and crushed rock or sand. You can purchase seed starting mix at garden centres at any time of the year, and in the spring you will most likely find it at lumber yards, and perhaps grocery stores.Personally, I like to mix a little of my own vegetable garden soil in with my starting mix. I feel it will get the plants used to what they will be growing in for the rest of their lives. Mixing your own seed starting mix is a little old-fashioned, but you will find that it is yet another way to save money and do things your own way. Here is the recipe I use for starting seeds...
